Wenger: No recall for Gnabry

Despite Arsenal’s injury problems, with 6 players who can play on the right side of midfield out of action, Arsene Wenger has no plans to recall Serge Gnabry.

The 20 year was loaned to West Brom for the season, and that’s where Arsene Wenger wants him to stay. He’s challenged the German to prove Tony Pulis wrong after the Baggies manager criticised him earlier this week.

“Serge has come here to play games but he just hasn’t been for me, at the moment, at that level to play the games,” said Pulis.

“He’s come from academy football and not played much league football. Does academy football really prepare players for league football? And we’re talking about Premier League football here.

“As a manager you pick a team that’s going to win a game of football. You pick your best team, you don’t leave people out because you don’t like them, because of this, that and the other.”

Asked about the possibility of bringing him back, the Arsenal manager, said “Serge Gnabry is on loan for a season and we cannot get him back, before the transfer period anyway.

“Loans between Premier League clubs are season-long loans. I have heard that Tony Pulis is not happy with him.

“He [Gnabry] has to change his opinion because I think Serge has the quality to play in the Premier League and it’s good that he faces this type of challenge, to change Tony Pulis round, and I hope he is putting the effort in.”

Returning to Arsenal to fill-in might be even considered an easy option, because when those ahead of him in the pecking order return, he won’t be playing for us either.

It’s a challenge, let’s see if he’s up for it.

Listen to this week’s Arsecast discussing the injury problems and a threat to the world itself.

I guess it’s the league rules that has tied the hands of either club to do anything with Gnabry’s situation.

By the time we get to the Jan transfer widow our right side may not be a concern any longer!

Hope both Campbell and Gnabry step-up, to force a change in the pecking order!

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3 years ago

Miranda

The league rules say that a year-long loan between two Premiership clubs can be broken, so long as there was no loan fee involved, but only if West Brom agree. What worries me is that Pulis won’t agree. I have a horrible suspicion that he has already refused to release Gnabry, not because he has any intention of using him but for precisely the opposite reason – he’s enjoying not using him and being in a position to spite and thwart Wenger and Arsenal.

We sent Gnabry there to get experience, so why would Wenger be saying he’s got to stay and fight for his place when the likelihood of that happening looks just about zero since he’s not even making the bench? Better surely to recall Gnabry and either use him ourselves or arrange a new loan at a lower level where he’ll actually play. I can’t believe we haven’t already tried to do this. I bet we have tried and Pulis has refused, and there’s not a thing we can do about it except put on a brave and polite face.

I hope I’m wrong, but Pulis is a horrible man and the way he went to media with this stuff about how Gnabry isn’t good enough for his team has a very bad smell. What it smells of is spite and the desire to humiliate Wenger, preferably destroying one of his tippy-tappy acclaimed foreigners in the process. Why attack a young kid in the media if not to undermine his confidence and get one over on snooty foreign Arsenal? What other manager has ever launched a public attack on a player they’ve taken on loan? Why not just let the kid go? As I say, I hope I’m wrong but listening to Pulis in the summer doing his oily whining to the media about how he much he wanted an Arsenal academy kid made me suspect something like this. A horrible man on a power trip and poor excellent Gnabry is his pawn.

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3 years ago

MC1892

I think you’re looking too much into this. Irrespective of Pulis’ feelings on Wenger, at the very least no manager would ever not play a player who could contribute positively to his team just to get one over on someone else. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Serge has simply regressed since his almost-breakthrough season with us- he’s young, it happens. I agree with Wenger, will show what he’s made of as- if we’re honest- he should really be able to displace one of that West Brom team.

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3 years ago

Miranda

If Pulis thinks he’s too poor even to sit on the bench, why doesn’t he release him? If he had nothing but West Brom’s and Arsenal’s best interests at heart, he’d allow Gnabry to leave and spend the second half of the season at a lower-league club more suited to his level, thus saving West Brom from the burden of his wages. You imply that Pulis is acting rationally here but manager who was thinking rationally would leap at the opportunity to terminate a loan deal that had proved disappointing; a decent one with a modicum of concern for the player would have a private word with Wenger about what he sees as Gnabry’s shortcomings rather than slagging him off in the media. It was the wording of the slagging-off that was telling. Nothing about Gnabry’s actual shortcomings (poor first touch, doesn’t defend, too lazy, whatever), let alone any mention of his potential and how Pulis would endeavour to develop it, just a crowing ‘not good enough for MY team’.

Well, he’s good enough for Germany. He scored an excellent goal and got an assist in the last interlull, so he can’t have regressed very much. Thank God there’s another interlull coming up. It’s the only playing time this season Gnabry looks likely to get.

Gnabry isn’t a Pulis type of player so why did he want him in the first place?

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3 years ago

IamaGoober

I donno, I genuinely hate Pulis. I hate him so very much, and I know a lot of the Arsenal fans feel the same, if not all of us. I am pretty sure Arsene doesn’t like him either. Nor do I suspect Pulis particularly likes Arsene, or the Arsenal fans. I could easily see Pulis not liking a player just because he came from Arsenal and is said to be a promising talent by Arsene. So the question is; is Pulis stupid enough to totally write off a player who potentially could be a quality acquisition for his squad and not play him, all because he came from Arsenal? – because of the whole Shawcross Ramsey incident, and how said incident has tarnished his managerial cv, and he is now subsequently labelled more as a ‘rugby coach’ then a football manager by a lot of the footballing world. I am pretty sure it was actually Arsene himself who slapped Pulis with that insult in a post match press conference after that very game . .. So, yeah, I could 100% see Pulis trying to get one back over Arsene by purposely benching one of his starlets. Plus, he wears that grotty cap and tracksuit all the time which makes a massive C U Next Tuesday.

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3 years ago

Woolwich Peripatetic

I think you’ll find that in general, managers get along better than people think. The loan system is a pretty good guide to who is on speaking terms with whom.

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3 years ago

Jimbo Jones

I think you may be a little off-point. Pulis could no doubt use someone of Gnabry’s talent performing. If Pulis isn’t playing him it’s because his form is not currently at the required level for whatever reason – not getting a run, lack of commitment or fitness? He’s not exactly looking in peak condition. Wenger is spot on, he needs to prove Pulis wrong and show what he can do – we certainly saw glimpses of it prior to his injury – reality is if he can’t force himself into the WBA team he is going to struggle with us. Good luck to the lad and hope he can rise to the challenge as he looked like quite the player when he had the run in the team!

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3 years ago

mpls

Aye.
I think this is just Pulis’ talk to kick Gnabry in the arse and get a bit of a fire into him. Gnabry has surely got the technicals to do it, but we all know Pulis likes workhorses. It’s not likely he’s going to allow disappearing for a bit of a match at all.

So I don’t see it as Pulis writing him off- he’s giving him a call to arms challenge. And Wenger is backing him up on it. He may be ridiculous, but I can’t believe he’d be daft enough to kill his chances of future talent on loan just to put one over on anybody.

It looks to me that the club picks loan opportunities carefully for the players according to what they will benefit most from. I’m out on a limb and don’t want to sound harsh on Serge, but perhaps he was getting too comfortable and needs this challenge.

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3 years ago

La Défense

Totally agree. The statements seem like a pre-arranged tactic from both managers to motivate Gnabry. Such a tactic wouldn’t be used if both Pulis and Wenger think Gnabry’s too sensitive.

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3 years ago

Miranda

Blimey, you think Wenger and Pulis are having regular chats on the phone about Gnabry’s state of mind and the best way to further his development? (Yeah, really likely seeing as they’re on such matey terms.) You think Pulis is a sensitive, caring sort of bloke who’s been closely observing Gnabry and reflecting long and hard on what would be the best approach to nurture his talent? (Can’t say sensitivity is a word that springs readily to mind in the context of Pulis; nor is caring; nor is youth development, it not being a field in which he’s excelled at any club he’s been at.)

Sounds to me from the way Wenger’s statement is worded that (1) he didn’t even realise Gnabry wasn’t playing until he learned about it via the media; and (2) he’s powerless to do anything and is simply trying to make the best of a bad situation by urging Gnabry to show his quality (though how he’s to do this, when he’s not playing, probably not even training with the first team, is unclear).

Meanwhile, the poor lad is doing his best, scoring in the reserves and keeping his spirits up by coming to the Emirates to cheer on his former team-mates. Lots of our kids have a miserable time out on loan where they learn nothing, aren’t rated by the manager and rarely get much playing time, but this is the first time I’ve known one of them who’s so desperate he comes home to watch our games.

So much talent and confidence gets destroyed by these awful loan spells. Did you see one of the Watford’s player’s recent comment about how Bellerin was thought rubbish by their then manager while he was there? Bellerin was lucky, as was Coquelin, both of whom, thanks to injuries, got a chance with us. But most won’t have that luck. Afobe is a classic case of one who didn’t and the excellent Toral looks like being another to lose years rotting on a lower-league bench. Gnabry was out injured all last season so a further year out could fuck his development completely. I was really angry last summer listening to Pulis’s wheedling to the media about how much he wanted him, because it was so obviously going to be a disaster. Now he’s refusing to release him I’m angrier still.

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3 years ago

Goonerratic

Seems logical as our right hand side crisis is only for 3 weeks or so until Chamberlain comes back. But considering that Pulis won’t play him as much as he needs to play, he should be recalled to be sent to another club in Winter window.
But that’s not really going to happen.

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3 years ago

Özorlexisey

Wenger don’t be that rude!
Save gnabry from that cap-wearing prick,pulis or foolish whatever.

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3 years ago

Malc

Pulis’s comments about Gnabry were almost identical to what was said by Wenger after the Wednesday game. Is that considered damaging to his confidence? Doubt it.

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3 years ago

Gutbukket Deffrolla

Gnabry has played a number of 1st team games for Arsenal and I don’t remember him making a fool of himself. I suspect Pubis is basing a lot of this on his theory that a young player can’t do what men do on the pitch. Being a Proper Football Man as F365 would describe him I am sure he is a believer in the old “You’ll never win anything with kids” axiom. I wonder if he’s even seen Gnabry at training.

Pubis is a fuckwit hiding in a fuckwit’s body.

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3 years ago

Miranda

A fuckwit indeed and a thoroughly nasty piece of work. Of course he’s entitled to think Gnabry is rubbish or unsuited to the Pulis brand of football – in which case why take him in the first place and why not let him come home? Perhaps Barnsley’s manager found Crowley useless and unsuitable to league 1 but, in contrast to Pulis, he has released him with some gracious and encouraging words:

‘we’ve really enjoyed working with him. He’s probably one of the best, or the best, or most talented 18-year-olds I’ve ever seen. For me, it was fantastic to work with him, really enjoyed it, really appreciative to Arsenal.’

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3 years ago

Mesut

In hindsight it seems strange that we loaned a player to a Pulis club, considering the difference in styles. Has Arsene had loan deals with him before?

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3 years ago

Tiny

Every young Arsenal player should be forced to spend at least 6 months playing under Tony Pulis. It will give them humility and make them realise how lucky they are to be at the Arsenal.

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3 years ago

Gutbukket Deffrolla

Except they wouldn’t actually get to play, would they?

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3 years ago

Arsepedant

I can just hear Pubis’ first words when an Arsenal loanee arrives for his first day’s traning – “All right, lad, forget everything you’ve been taught so far.”

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3 years ago

GunnersGun

I hope Campbell takes his chance otherwise I fear he might end up like Carlos vela. Hopefully not cause he has quality. I feel a good performance maybe an assist or even a goal will do his confidence a lot of good. Also I think it’ll wake Chamberlain up because somehow I feel he’s gotten too comfortable and that’s why he’s sulking. But with Campbell maybe putting a good performance will make him realize if he doesn’t wake up and work harder he might find himself further down the pecking order. Anyway hope Campbell has a good game and arsenal as well and hope Theo and the ox gr8 better soon. We need all the players we’ve got to push for the title this yr.

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3 years ago

SoqedHozi

I think Vela is doing alright for himself in Spain though. Some just don’t suit England (Reyes, Falcao, Santos?)

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3 years ago

John C

Carlos Vela was a party animal and was getting pissed most nights of the week, it was never a lack of talent and i dare say Gnabry is similarly unprofessional otherwise he wouldn’t have been sent out on loan.

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3 years ago

Paul my Dickov

Shaaaaad you were the chosen one! It was said you would heal our injuries!

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3 years ago

Arsepedant

He does heal them. It’s preventing them in the first place that’s the tough part.

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3 years ago

Panther

What the hell is Wenger doing loaning players to a manager like Pulis? Pulis’s idea of a good player is completely different to a manager like Wenger.
Before his knee injury, Gnabry put in some mature performances for Arsenal particularly against Swansea and Spurs. Gnabry should not be anywhere near a manager like Pulis.

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3 years ago

gee

can not believe im actually saying this but i do agree with the lord of the Orcs. As seen by some of the youngsters performance in the league cup, the intensity of pro men footy can not be matched in academies.
How many youngsters have done really well in the youth teams but have sunk to the lower lgs or out of the game all together when they come in to 1st team footy. I think a young player already playing 1st team footy has way more fight and experience than a academy player of the same age. Amazing that Ramsey, OX, Theo (i heard Sanchez too) were all playing 1st team footy at 16.

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3 years ago

One Gus

The trouble with that argument is that Gnabry has already played first team football for us and performed very well. But I don’t believe the conspiracy theories either. My best guess? Pulis is simply an arse.

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3 years ago

Gutbukket Deffrolla

You’re comparing u-21s to u19s or younger. That’s where you’re going wrong. It’s the players on loan who are the next crop to hopefully break into the team. Somehow we seem to have sent almost all of them out on loan at the same time. Gnabry has played well in more quality 1st team games for Arsenal than Pubis has managed in with any of his teams in his entire career.

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3 years ago

santori

Since returning from injury, he has not been able to exhibit quite the same amount of hunger nor the same out put as before.

Could be just an issue of time but he has to first show he has the mettle and gumption to push into the WBA squad.

Campbell could be ahead of him at this point. there are others pushing at the door in Akpom (particularly) and Jeff so Gnabry has got to step up.

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3 years ago

Zorro in the Box

There’s a lot of bile about Tony Pulis here, and understandably given Stoke and Ramsey history and subsequent comments. But I think Wenger’s being quite gracious and he has a point – we don’t want a player who can’t prove that he can compete, no matter the manager. While Pulis may not have the style we like he’s a good football manager – talent is talent wherever it is. Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez etc – they would all have been appreciated regardless of the style. Big Sam and Pulis wouldn’t turn their nose up at someone who isn’t a “proper football man” who runs “arrraaand” a lot.

I repeat, Mesut Ozil would have been appreciated irrespective of the long ball/long throw managerial style. Gnabry needs to sort himself out, and compete – technical players are appreciated regardless. So are hardworkers. Goalscorers. Creators. Pacey, teamworkers, tracking back – there’s a lot of their game that he could develop to make himself valuable to Pulis.

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3 years ago

TeeCee

We need to apply Occam’s razor here. There are two options:
1) Gnabry has suddenly become crap.
2) Tony Pulis is an ignorant, goblin-faced twat.

Not a hard call really….

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3 years ago

Geefive

Hopefully Serge can pull it together, get some games in, and on the last day of his loan, two foot slide Pubis right in the face, causing a guy-in-the-bathroom-in-Poltergeist kind of shit…..